Abbreviations

What do the abbreviations mean?

 GCSE

 General Certificate of
Secondary Education –
qualification awarded in
the UK after passing an
exam in a certain subject
at secondary school (age
16).
 NVQ
 National Vocational Qualification - work-related qualification
awarded in the UK after a course of study which includes
practical elements (age 16+).
`A`Level
 Advanced Level - qualification awarded in the UK
after passing an exam in a certain subject at the end of
secondary school or sixth form college (age 18).
HND
 Higher National Diploma - qualification awarded in the UK
after completion of a year-long course of study in a specialised
subject at college (age 18+).
 BA/BSc
 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science = qualification awarded
after completion of a three/four-year course of study at
university (age 21+).
 MA/MSc

 Master of Arts/Master of
Science - a post-graduate
qualification awarded
after completion of a
one/two-year course of
study at university which
often includes a thesis (age
22+).
 PhD
 Doctor of Philosophy - a post-graduate qualification awarded after
completion of approximately three years of study which results in the
publication of an original research project (age 24+).